Teletherapy: What It Is And How It Helps Your Child

Families of young children who are deaf and hard of hearing are currently facing many challenges. COVID-19 has caused closures for many local education facilities, including the CCHAT Center, which has resulted in children becoming isolated from a community they've come to rely on.

It has become increasingly important for these parents to secure educational services from qualified professionals to ensure their children learn the skills they need.

Fortunately, there is an alternative option for families during this time -- teletherapy. 

At the CCHAT Center, our team has been working hard to ensure our students still receive the help they need to develop their speech and language, despite ongoing closures.

We’ve established a virtual learning platform, providing children and parents with access to speech therapy and daily learning. This is a critical step in caring for children who are deaf and hard of hearing and helps prevent learning regression.

In this blog, we’re going to explain how CCHAT is using teletherapy to deliver speech and language services to our children when remote learning is required. 

What is teletherapy?

CCHAT's teletherapy services can be seen as a type of distance learning. Professionals are able to connect with parents or students at home using a computer, tablet or smartphone. Children are provided with the convenient opportunity to learn in familiar, safe surroundings.

The ongoing COVID-19 response at CCHAT

COVID-19 has transformed the CCHAT Center, and we have had to pivot our model to be more accessible to those who are working from home. Fortunately, our dedicated staff members are determined to develop and deploy distance learning services for students during this difficult time.

Now, 50 children with hearing loss and their parents can benefit from our services in the comfort of their own home. 

What is teletherapy like at the CCHAT Center?

Since some students are unable to attend classes at the CCHAT Center, studying for them is taking place at home.

Consistent interaction with staff and their classmates is crucial for:

• Speech and language development
• Academic achievement
• Social and emotional development
  

With teletherapy: 

• Students are sent lessons and support materials each week. 
• Each family receives daily contact from the CCHAT staff to help facilitate learning at home.
• Speech-language pathologists and teachers use Zoom or another video conferencing platform to engage in one-on-one teaching with students.
  

Now, more than ever, parents need to be part of the virtual classroom and speech therapy sessions. Parental involvement allows them to take what the child has learned in the lesson and implement it in their everyday life. 

Speech therapy techniques work wonders when families leverage the resources available around the house. This includes materials, experiences, siblings and the environment surrounding the child. They can all take an active role in supporting the ongoing education of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. 

If you would like to learn more about teletherapy and how it can help your child during these difficult times and beyond, send us a message on our contact page.